* * *

Garnedell looked to the siblings, a sense of pride overwhelming him tinged with a bit of wonder at Joe’s performance. He scrambled to catch the tossed core before dropping it into his bag.

“Stick back for a bit for another couple fights and watch just to make sure, OK?”

Garnedell joined the siblings’ affirmation as Joe turned away and the three looked to each other. Garnedell said nothing but smiled proudly at the siblings’ look of shock. The three stared at each other before Zilnek interjected.

“How… Does master not feel… How strong is his resistance to cold?”

“He… is very strong,” Garnedell offered quietly with pride.

The three quieted and stared back to their master, watching him kill another snow with a shocking speed. The snow died quickly once again with Master Joe burying his fist in and retracting its snow core, killing it quickly.

Joe spent another twenty minutes quickly killing snow after snow before a snow finally attacked with a frostwave. Joe called out a warning, pushing them back away quickly while he settled in front of the snow. They backed away quickly before turning to look at Joe. Joe had rushed towards the snow and pressed his small shield directly into the face of the snow.

Garnedell felt a bit of worry creep over him even as he felt the quick glances of the siblings on him, but Joe proved himself even as stood in a rather strange way while shoving the shield in the snow’s body while standing slightly off to the side. Why is he not hiding behind the shield?

The snow continued to draw in mana and cold before concentrating it and firing it out towards his Master. When the snow fired his frostwave, Joe quickly pulled his shield in front of him to hide behind his shield. Why didn’t he just hide behind the shield in the first place? Garnedell waited in fear for the frostwave to overwhelm his Master and held his breath in fear. He continued waiting, breath held, but soon realized that the frostwave hadn’t been fired with his Master somehow having stopped the snow’s frostwave.

Master fought another several snows before inviting them to join him and the four soon found themselves pounding away on snows which Master warned them to let him keep ‘agro,’ which the three didn’t really understand but listened carefully and tried to learn anyway. Master must wish us to learn this ourselves. I must teach my juniors what agro is.

The four continued killing snows and the four soon encountered another frostwave. Master quickly told the three apprentices to run away while Master once again buried his shield into its face and completely shut down the frostwave. The three ran back quickly and once again began beating on the snow with their master. Master glanced at them with a smile when they returned and all four began smashing the snow. It fell quickly and Joe then stepped back, leading the group back to the safe area before turning to them.

“Do you guys want to try killing snows by yourself?”

“Uh… Do you think we are capable?”

“Possibly. The only thing I’m worried about is the freeze wave. Do any of you have a shield?”

“We cannot,” Zilnek popped out quickly.

“I cannot either, Master,” Garnedell offered then dropped his eyes when he saw his Master’s upset glance. I must stop calling him master!

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“You probably shouldn’t then. Shall we keep fighting together as a team?”

Garnedell immediately felt the joy of the siblings and allowed his own smile to erupt on his face, “Yes! It would be wonderful!”

Joe nodded then cocked his head towards the snows and turned, “Right. Let’s do this then!”

The four returned to the fight and spent the rest of the day clearing out the snows in the area until early evening and Joe called an end to the day. Joe asked them whether they wished to camp in the dungeon for the night and while Garnedell could feel excitement well up within him just as much as he could feel from the siblings, but a glance between the three was enough for Garnedell to know that they felt the same as him; they were ill-prepared to sleep the night in the dungeon. The three came to a quick consensus before Garnedell turned to Master and gave their consensus as was his responsibility as the eldest apprentice.

Joe looked to the siblings and then Garnedell before nodding and accepting the decision.

“Right. Let’s head out back to the inn, then.”

Joe turned and led everyone back towards the entrance and easily passed through each of the monster zones between the exits and safe zones without any issue. Joe spent the time going over some issues while they were traveling in the tunnels between floors and while in the safe zones. The conversation was a bit disjointed as they paused to cautiously traverse the monster zone, focusing on the crossing instead of the conversation.

“So… I don’t want to seem rude or impolite or anything… I’m not trying to say anything bad, but I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do as your Mas… uh teacher,” Joe trailed off at the end and whispered under his breath, “I really hate that word…”

Garnedell glanced to the siblings and but they looked at him, placing themselves under his authority, as expected of younger apprentices to their senior apprentice. Garnedell knew exactly what Joe was asking as he was not from this plane but the siblings would not understand but felt his discomfort grow. I must instruct Master, again. However, it was not his place to reject his Master’s wishes or to reveal his Master’s past to the other apprentices until the Master chose to. Garnedell had long since become quite a bit more comfortable speaking to Master, but the struggle to remember what information to remain silent with, what to reveal, what Master felt was appropriate to reveal, trying to please such an unusual Master, and trying to teach Master without bringing shame to Master always left Garnedell quite uncomfortable. But most especially teaching his Master. An apprentice was not to teach the Master. The Master always knew more than the apprentice. But! Master is an amazing man! Do not gripe against your master! Remember how greatly he has helped!

Garnedell quickly controlled his thoughts, reigning them in under his control so as to appropriately help his Master without bringing shame to him for his lack of knowledge. Garnedell must choose his words carefully, “I am … uncertain … of your wishes Master, but as you already know, Master, the Master needs do nothing. The apprentices serve the Master.”

Joe flickered an eye towards Garnedell, frustration evident in his look and Garnedell realized he’d once again called his Master Master. Joe, however, did not punish or reveal any anger, bringing even greater shame to Garnedell for his failure. I must remember! I must remember! Garnedell quickly cut off his meandering thoughts as his Master continued the conversation.

“Oh… well, I… um. I know I’m… Well, the teacher teaches you. I’m supposed to teach you. Is there something else I am to do?”

“Teachers are to teach their students, yes.”

The conversation flagged a bit as they spent some time passing through the second floor monster zone before picking up after they reached the safe zone. Master cares for us so much, wasting so much caution to keep us alive. He has no need for any caution for himself! Garnedell’s thoughts came back to him quickly as Master began questioning again.

“Is there anything else,” Master asked?

“No. The apprentices are the masters to do as they will,” Garnedell answered.

“I… what do you mean apprentices belong to the master… like a slave?”

“No. Not like a slave.”

“Oh. Then, what does it mean? What do apprentices do?”

“They care for and do whatever the Master says.”

“That’s a slave.”

“No. Slaves are owned by their master. Apprentices are not owned by the Master.”

Joe did not reply, obviously understanding the explanation. Garnedell understood that Master was not from this plane, but he was still surprised by some of the things his Master seemed to be unaware of. His Master considered for several more moments before he began speaking again.

“You need have no fear. I will treat and care for you well. Do you understand?” Master spoke forcefully and clearly with a smile on his face as he looked back to his three apprentices.

Master is truly a great man! He understands so quickly and treats his apprentices as a Master should!